Sunday, January 13, 2013

Education Is No Zero-Sum Game

Following the squabble over the omitting of science and English in elementary public schools awhile back, the Constitutional Court has ruled out against the contentious international-standard school pilot project, known as RSBI (Rintisan Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional) last week. The ruling declared RSBI program breaching the Constitution for discriminating and segregating students.


Despite gaining an exuberant welcome nationwide, it does not signify victory for the students who are the key subject of education. Again, they have fallen victims to uncertainties plaguing our national education system resulting from the never-ending jumble tumble between policymakers and bureaucrats in the expense of the students.

Education for all! We uphold that sweet jargon dearly. Any children apart of their social strata, race, religion, and social background have equal right to benefit from accessible education. It is the responsibility of the government to provide affordable and qualified schools for its citizens as mandated under The Indonesian Constitution. Education is a long-term investment as today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. It is therefore mandatory for the government to build a strong and sound high-quality educational system that will ensure the nation’s future.

To achieve this, the government had ordained Law No. 20/2003 on Education requiring all municipalities and districts in the country to have at least one RSBI. The program originally aimed to boost the quality of the Indonesian schools to stand on par with their counterparts in developed countries in producing high-quality human resources.

RSBI enjoyed special treatment other public schools did not get. Each RSBI got an annual block grant of between Rp 300 million and Rp 50 million from the government to buy equipment and hire staff. They used English as a medium of instruction and adopted an international curriculum. In addition, the schools were entitled the discretion to levy fees from students, whereas other public schools were free. As always, when it comes to money, any discrepancies will lead into disastrous result. Such is the root of evil in this country! Money tends to corrupt people!

Consequently, the noble cause crumbled. Parents, teachers’ organization as well as the anti graft and corruption watch groups discovered inappropriateness in the program.

First, the program was deemed discriminative since it denied seats for students who could not afford the suffocating tuition fee. The liberty to extort higher fees than other public schools has made RSBI far too expensive for students from disadvantaged families. It meant the taxpayers also paid subsidy for wealthy parents since RSBI was funded by the state It was tantamount to the liberalization of the public education sector. It was against the philosophy of ‘education for all’ as stipulated in our constitution. The poor remained marginalized from the mainstream education.

Second, most RSBI have not shown any indication of improved education quality since their inception. Their students generally performed the same or even worse than students at any regular public schools. The term RSBI was always just a label, accentuating the prestige that boosted rich parents to send their kids in schools that used English. They focused more on adopting English into their lessons rather than on improving the quality of teaching. They hired English coaches to coach the teachers. Then, the teachers tried to teach in broken English. In the end, the students lost in confusion, let alone understanding the subject. Accordingly, the idea of RSBI was better solely because of their English was irrelevant and did not correspond to the improvement of education quality.

Third, there was lack of transparency in the financial management of RSBI related to the unlimited fees they could collect. The program has been managed in such a way that money mattered the most. Parents complained on how the schools raked in millions of rupiah a month on the pretext of improving education. Illicit fees collected to pay extra allowances having no transparent and accountable report. In reality, the money was going toward auxiliary expenses to build physical facilities, pay additional stipend for teachers and staff, rather than improve the quality of teaching and extracurricular activities.

The court ruling was lauded as the victory of the public who advocated education for all. Yet, the decision does not address the root problem of the tangle within our national education system. It leaves the RSBI and their students battling with the uncertainties on what might happen to them next. It also evokes the question on what would happen to the billions rupiah already spent on the program. Either way, nobody wins!

Again, the students fall victims. We easily turn on each other, playing a blame game instead of formulating constructive solution for the improvement of our national education system. The reality is we all share responsibility for the success of public education. The policymakers, bureaucrats, the teachers, the parents and the students, have role to play. Until all parties are able to sit in one table under goodwill to find the best solution, there will always be such squabble to repeat. Education is no-zero sum game to play!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirror mirror on the wall rectify my error,

Cast your magic, ease the pain,

Relieve me from relentless terror,





Mirror mirror on the wall, save me from this plight,

Double time, half the pay, five voices all demanding,

Yet only my two hands to type the fight,



Mirror mirror on the wall, lead me to the dragon’s lair,

Beg the King to grant me wings and mighty roar,

Whence I transcend this bitter end, discharging every chore.





Mirror mirror on the wall, the day is nearly done,

Reflect upon my intellect, and how this war was won,

With fallen wings into the terrain,

Tomorrow it all starts again!


(collaborated with a friend)

My Dear Annoying Train

O, dear my ugly loving train,


You broke my heart again,

Over and over you constantly let me down,

Leaving me stranded in the rain now and then,



O, dear my hideous darling train,

Feet sore, toes got trampled over,

Beads of sweat rolled down like a river,

How dare you said sorry and sorry again!



O, dear my obnoxious silly train,

You taxed me with overpriced horrible service!

While delayed was your pathetic excuse,

So lame as an obselete song,

Forgotten and abandoned!



O, dear my sweet annoying train,

Poor as you were,

I had no choice but to love thee,

My Dear Playful Rain

It's January morn, lad!


thundering downpours woke me in the dead of the cold,

torrential rains battered my window sill,

while the sun hid behind the invisible wall!

Making the day a hellish dull!



O, stop thy mocking grin!

I need my sun to shine again,

a little dance to make my skies smile!

So I can hurriedly be off my way!

O, you mischievous spoiled rain!

Stop ruin my day for just today,

I had no mood to play jest with thee,

For I had affairs to attend soon!



O, wicked heartless rain!

It’s almost 7 yet thy still dally,

Binding me with thy childish whine,

Be good and I shall be your most wonderful companion!

Be bad then I shall be thy most fearsome foe!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Stop Gender-Biased Regulation against Women!

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/01/14/imo-view-stop-gender-biased-regulation.html

The year of 2012 closed with heinous crimes against women. It again underlined that violence against women continued to persist as one of the most heinous, systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world, including Indonesia.


A 23 year old medical student in New Delhi was brutally gang-raped on a moving public bus in front of her boyfriend, then thrown semi-naked on the road to die . A few weeks later, she died due her massive internal injuries after being savagely beaten during the rape. Slow response by authorities marked by patriarchal system had incited widespread outrage led into riots throughout the city. This incident reminded us that patriarchal system elaborating the oppression of women, failed to protect women against violence in public places.

Shortly after, I watched the news of the tragic end of an eleven year old girl. Previously, she was treated under intensive care unit (ICU) at Persahabatan Hospital, East Jakarta, due to unabated seizures on Saturday. While she was administered medication to cure the seizure, doctors found vaginal and rectal wounds on the fifth-grade student. It was suspected that she suffered sexual assaults prior to her deteriorating condition. Her injuries were suspected to have caused brain infection leading to her death. Again, it was another failure on how family and the society as a whole failed to protect women against violence by sexual predators.

Afterward, I read on the news that Aceh, the only province that followed Sharia (Islamic Law) would soon issue regulation banning women passengers to sit straddling in motorbikes. The Major of Lhokseumawe said the regulation was aimed to save people's "morals and behaviors." Further, he elaborated that straddling the bike seat violated Islamic values.

I was enraged. It was way beyond my sane understanding. It was the most outrageous and bizarre 'joke' I've heard in the beginning of 2013. How come the ways we sit on motorcycles determine the morality of men! It also meant women were not allowed to drive motorcycles! How could we drive if the law forbad us to straddle! I see no common sense in this upcoming law!

I am a woman and a Muslim. I always sit "side-saddle" when I take ojek (motorcycle taxi) for convenience reason. But I sit straddling while driving my motorbike! I can assure you that the way I sit doesn't cause moral decadence of my neighbors or viewers! I don't read any such regulation either in the Holy Book or Hadist.

The law is discriminatory and has a gender bias. It is formulated by patriarchal regulators and systems that always see women as seed of 'evil.' Thus, they need to put a leash on us like we are some sort of animals! Gee, sometimes I just don’t understand the way ‘civilized’ men think!

If the central government ever passed the proposed regulation, our legal pendulum would swing to yet another extreme. Gender bias has run rampant in our court system. It took many painful years for our legal systems to recognize women as victim of domestic violence. Women still have long way to go fighting for equality in front of the law.



Instead of inventing such ludicrous set of rules, the authority should develop laws and regulations that could ensure and safeguard the protection of women against heinous crimes of raping and beating, also discrimination. Men should respect women the way they respect their mothers, sisters or wives. The laws accordingly should be free from prejudice and gender-biased.



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Ring out the Old, Bring in the New

http://www2.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/01/07/imo-view-ring-out-old-bring-new.html

Time has elapsed quickly. The New Year is fast approaching. Within the next couple of hours, we will be welcoming 2013. People will look for a fabulous way to kick off the New Year's Eve. Jakarta is gearing up for variety of celebrations including fireworks and entertainment throughout the city to accommodate the needs.

Some people celebrate the New Year with a stay at the hotel, villa or particular inn with family and relatives. Some people get dressed up and dance the night away at a party or club. Many people however will flock the streets heading to countdown craze spots around the city's landmarks to watch the firework shows. Some choose to stay in home during this buzzing time of the year, doing contemplative prayer or planning to make new year's resolution.

As for me, I prefer to avoid being stuck in a gridlock of the horrendous roads in Jakarta, which will be even more chaotic than usual on that eve. Not to mention the torment of staying alert from pickpockets grabbing your phone, wallet or bag in overcrowded areas. I rather see the firework shows from my window lighted by my good neighbors! It's more convenient, safer, and cheaper!

For that reason, a few hours before such pandemonium took place, I hurriedly paid my novels and left the bookstore. I planned to spend the last night of the year to read while seeing the firecrackers. I hailed an angkot (public minivan) heading to Depok terminal. I rushed off by the time it arrived at the station. I heard trumpets blaring, like squeaking ducks! Firecrackers lit up with such noises!The deluge rage had began! I sped up my strides!

As I headed for the location of the next angkot for my residence, my eyes caught a sight of a lanky boy of eight walking sloppily. A plastic band neatly tucked rows of trumpets on his thin shoulders. A faint drizzle greeted the earth. He walked faster. Then, I remembered my elder brother had asked me earlier to buy a trumpet for my six years old nephew. I caught up my speed with the boy. I tapped his back lightly to stop him.

Old habit died hard. All of a sudden, I was talking with him, digging more information about him. He lived with his parents in a nearby kampung (village) near the station. His name was Muhammad Fatahillah with a nickname of Toya. This was his first time to sell trumpets for the New Year. Usually, he ran errands to get extra money from ojek payung (renting an umbrella during the rain) to shoe polishing. He told me he was in his second grade. His father was a becak (a three wheelers bicycle) driver while his mum was a full time housewife. He had an elder brother of twelve and two younger brothers of five and three.

Asked further whether his parents made him work on street, he shook his head.

"NO, they don't ask me to work! I just wanna help my parents."

I smiled at him. There was a lump in my heart. I brushed off his matted hair and signaled him to stop. We had to cross the railway. We dashed in a hurry once we saw no trains passing by.

"What is your wish for the new year?" I asked cautiously.

His face went blank for a fleeting moment.

"I don't know. I just want to get as much money tonight to bring home!"

It was like a dagger to the heart. Amid the merry and grand celebration of the approaching new year, here was an innocent little boy carried a great burden over his shoulders. It was a stark contrast of reality. Old or new, past or present, we will keep meeting many young Toya roaming on the streets.

I sincerely pray that despite the odds, these children will survive the day. They can be whoever they wanna be so long they keep their dream alive and fight for it.

Happy New Year Toya! May all the best things come to your way always!